In my region

Discover how the EU supports your local area
In my region
In my region
In my life
In focus
In my region
Discover how the EU supports your local area
1 738 Regions
View of the Grimming peak

Liezen, Austria

  • Add to favouritesLiezen
  • Download 
View of the Grimming peak
© Marieluise | Adobe Stock

Once known for mining and industry, Austria’s largest district is now characterised more by agriculture and tourism. Since 2015, it has grouped together a total of 29 municipalities and two administrative areas. The Gesäuse National Park extends over 5 municipalities and is a popular destination for walking and winter sports. The district, whose most salient geographical feature are the high plateaus of the Limestone Alps, has a rather small population of about 80 000 inhabitants. The population has been declining for years. The unemployment rate is below average for Styria.

Examples of projects and initiatives supported by the EU

Expansion of the fibre optic infrastructure

The development of the glass fibre network in the district of Liezen is intended to provide the region with ultra-fast internet in the long term. By 2022, the network had been extended greatly, achieving a high level of coverage. Austria’s 2030 broadband strategy receives financial support from the NextGenerationEU recovery plan for Europe.

School support programmes

The European Social Fund (ESF) covers the costs of educational programmes to compensate for deficits that arose during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the 2021/2022 academic year, it provided support to the following academies: the Federal Commercial Academy and Federal Commercial School BHAK/BHAS in Liezen, the Schladming Ski Business School, BAFEP Liezen, BG/BRG Stainach and the Admont Stiftsgymnasium

Sölktäler Nature Park family project

A series of projects covering a variety of fields (education, climate, environment, regional culture and identity, etc.) in the Liezen-Gesäuse region have benefited from the EU LEADER initiative. The EU covers between 40 and 80 per cent of the costs. One example is the Sölktäler Nature Park family project, where children and teenagers help maintain alpine pastures in good order.

Admont Mountain Rescue Centre

The area has had an organised mountain rescue service for more than 110 years. The new mountain rescue centre was opened in Admont in 2018. With a live tracking system to coordinate operations, it is one of the most modern operational centres in Europe. About 60 % of the costs were borne by the EU.

Ausseerland: Conservation of the natural environment

The small region of Auseerland is characterised by multiple lakes, the surrounding mountain range and nature reserves. The EU’s LIFE Nature Fund supports the protection and conservation of this space through specific measures for forests, aquatic environments and marshlands.

Further information
Discover how the EU supports your local area